Expired
Rent or buy on most major platforms.
The Australian director Ivan Sen has been on the radar of genre aficionados since Mystery Road (2013) and Goldstone (2016), two successful hybrids of procedural and western revolving around the charismatic figure of a taciturn Indigenous detective. For his latest, Sen mixed science fiction and noir, with a dollop of romance thrown in.
A disheveled Ryan Kwanten (who has matured in interesting ways as an actor since True Blood) stars as Jack, a hit man plying his trade in a futuristic metropolis. Just as he falls for April (Jillian Nguyen), whom he saw singing in a peepshow-like club, Jack starts getting weaker, afflicted by a mysterious disease. Hugo Weaving, abundantly bearded, turns up as a mysterious life-extension specialist who may or may not be able to help, at least with the health part.
Dont pay too close attention to the story, though, because Expired (titled Loveland in Australia) is more reverie than tightly plotted actioner. In turn maddening and hypnotic, serene and irritating, the movie is an art-house fugue disguised as a genre flick. Yes, it does get a little portentous at times, but you have to admire Sens stubborn avoidance of the default irony and cynicism of so much action fare, and his quest for a serious mood.
The tag line on the poster of the 1975 movie A Boy and His Dog was: A future youll probably live to see. It adequately describes this efficient thriller, which is plausibly, and scarily, set in 2023.
From the start we care for Sarah (Michelle Girolami), a New York ragamuffin who is so adrift, so desperate that she accepts to have an experimental chip implanted in her back. (Girolamis close-cropped hair, hoodie and nervous energy make the character feel like an American relative of the Millennium books Lisbeth Salander.)
Sarahs life turns into a nightmare when the so-called L.E.X.X. (voiced by L.E.X.X., according to the end credits) develops a will of its own and forces its host to do its bidding. Unfortunately for you, you are under my control, L.E.X.X. tells Sarah as it turns out, a synthetic entity can drip with sarcasm. The young woman becomes immersed in a nightmare in which she is the prisoner of a voice in her head (the movie could have further explored the intriguing possibility that this is not sci-fi at all but a tale of mental illness).
While its script is not all that innovative and some of the effects are distractingly simplistic (ixnay on the glowing eyes, please), Implanted benefits from above-average filmmaking: The director Fabien Dufils has a sure grasp of the fundamentals of his craft, and that alone puts him and his movie ahead of the bulk of the streaming underworld.
In retrospect, it was an auspicious sign that Chlo Grace Moretzs breakthrough roles were in the cartoonishly violent Kick-Ass and the atmospheric vampire tale Let Me In, both from 2010. While this versatile actress is at ease in any style, she brings a unique presence decisive with flashes of vulnerability to action films. Here she elevates Mattson Tomlins post-apocalyptic tale as Georgia, a young woman who finds out shes pregnant just as our android helpers revolt and Earth goes to hell in a handbasket. (The uprising happens fast and is not really explained, which did not bother me but may frustrate some viewers.)
Most of the film is dedicated to Georgia and her boyfriend, Sam (Algee Smith), trying to reach Boston, where they plan to board a boat to Asia, where it is reputedly safer. It is largely a standard pregnant in the apocalypse survival story but as usual, Moretz gives the film a compelling emotional anchor and Georgia must do a lot of heavy lifting since Sam is a not very exciting fellow, illustrating the depressing but realistic scenario that a woman might have to settle while also trying to escape murderous cyborgs.
Rent or buy on most major platforms.
This Canadian drama may take place in 2043, years after a devastating civil war, but it clearly draws from an ignominious episode in the countrys history, when thousands of First Nations children were packed off to residential schools so they could be stripped of their identity and assimilated into so-called normal society as if this werent bad enough, many were abused and killed. (There were similar institutions in the United States.)
In Danis Goulets film, kids are rounded up and kept in a federal academy where they can be brainwashed and trained to fight. After hiding her young daughter, Waseese (Brooklyn Letexier-Hart), for years, Niska (Elle-Maija Tailfeathers) must reluctantly let her be whisked away. Once Niska realizes what actually happens at the academy, she sets out to retrieve her daughter, with the help of the title band of resisters.
Night Raiders does have some action elements, but Goulet is much better at establishing a matter-of-fact tone that underlines the quotidian hardships of surviving in an environment hellbent on destroying ones very identity.
Stream it on Netflix.
Well, this has been a grim column, so lets end it with some levity about technology going bad, very bad. The perils of our increasing reliance on A.I.-driven assistance are clearly on many peoples minds: Two animated movies similarly hyperactive and sharing conflicted perspectives they cant quite resolve on the subject came out within a few months of each other last year.
The better one is The Mitchells vs. the Machines, which is nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature. The premise is simple: Just as the Mitchell family embarks on its last road trip before the daughter, Katie (Abbi Jacobson), starts college, a vengeful A.I. (Olivia Colman) sets up robots to rise against mankind. Oops.
The nonstop action is enlivened by a terrific voice cast, amusing Easter eggs, an inventive grab-bag aesthetic and an appealing lead in the nerdy, film-obsessed Katie. Naturally, the human face of pernicious tech convinced of its coolness is a seemingly chill dude in a hoodie, Mark (Eric Andr).
That exact same archetype (now called Marc) turns up in Rons Gone Wrong (streaming on Disney+ and HBO Max), which also features Colman and rogue A.I. The story deals with kids using bots as friends, but the sentimental treatment lets everybody off the hook.
Read the original here:
Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now - The New York Times
- Choosing Regular Food to Extend Longevity - CounterPunch.org - CounterPunch - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- "I love the club, I'm really happy here" - Manchester United star opens up on life at club amid contract extension uncertainty - Sportskeeda - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Life Extension review - 7 facts you should know [APRIL 2022] - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Biomedical Research & Longevity Society - Wikipedia - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- NAD+ Cell Regenerator and Resveratrol Elite - Life Extension - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- FLORASSIST GI with Phage Technology - Life Extension - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Magnesium Citrate 100 mg, 100 capsules - Life Extension - November 5th, 2022 [November 5th, 2022]
- AMPK Metabolic Activator, 30 tablets - Life Extension - November 5th, 2022 [November 5th, 2022]
- Germany nuclear plants life extension approved by Cabinet - DW (English) - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Biohacking: What is it, types and hacks to try for beginners - Medical News Today - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- 'Biggest day of my life': Kevin Porter Jr., Rockets react to extension - Rockets Wire - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Postharvest quality solution for tomatoes-on-the-vine - hortidaily.com - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- JZZ Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiary LION Development Group, Enter into JV Agreement with affiliate of Hospitality Development Group, Inc. of Florida... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- 'I love the city': QB Zach Collaros inks 3-year contract extension to stay with Blue Bombers through 2025 - CBC.ca - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- MSU-led team studying expansion of controlled environment culinary herb production across US - Michigan State University - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- 60 seconds with...Wayne Dunn, Babcock International - Professional Engineering - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Wind energy operators must address these 5 areas to exploit the full value of monitoring - Windpower Engineering - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Extension shares tips for practicing fire safety in the fall - The Hartselle Enquirer - Hartselle Enquirer - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- FIRST Robotics Prepares to Extend Its Reach to More Vermont Students - Seven Days - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Plant Life Cycles - Penn State Extension - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- FDA Authorizes Shelf Life Extension for Certain Lots of Paxlovid - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- EDF considers extending life of two UK nuclear plants due to energy crisis - The Guardian - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Rittenbach among Extension team professionals honored - Jamestown Sun | News, weather, sports from Jamestown North Dakota - The Jamestown Sun - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- What is the circular economy and why is it essential for real sustainability? - Schroders - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- 44 national and international NGOs call for renewal and expansion of truce in Yemen [EN/AR] - Yemen - ReliefWeb - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- University City Townhomes residents now have until end of the year to find new low-income housing - The Philadelphia Inquirer - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- New Eskom board: Business groups happy with mix of skills - News24 - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Full circle on the farm: Penn State alum returns to help educate Pa. growers - Pennsylvania State University - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Task Force: Blacks are owed hundreds of thousands - CalMatters - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- ProLynx appoints Richard King as Chief Executive Officer and Chris Ehrlich as Board Director - GlobeNewswire - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Analysis: Behind Trump's media deal, a vote where only yes will do - Reuters - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Evusheld long-acting antibody combination approved in the EU for the treatment of COVID-19 | Antibodies | News Channels - PipelineReview.com - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Action Hampshire get behind Sustainable Future Fund to reduce waste in business - Hampshire Chronicle - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Living the dream - Farm Progress - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Teck and Agnico Eagle Announce Agreement on the San Nicols Copper-Zinc Project located in Zacatecas, Mexico - PR Newswire - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Most actively traded companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange - Winnipeg Free Press - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Giants Urged to Give Extension to 24-Year-Old Defender - Heavy.com - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Russias MiG-31 Fighter That Fired Hypersonic Missiles On Ukraine Conducted Drills In The Stratosphere - EurAsian Times - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Jaguar Mining Reports Confirmed Continuity of Mineralization at Pilar Gold Mine - Life of Mine Extension Drilling to Follow - Yahoo Finance - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Easy meals, life-saving knife skills part of West Texas Fair & Rodeo Spotlight Kitchen - Abilene Reporter-News - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Beyond Bulletproof: Why Billionaires Are Chasing Everlasting Health - Newsweek - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Did California Truly Extend the Life of Diablo Canyon? Only Time Will Tell. - JD Supra - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings Offered This Fall - Iowa State University - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Finland to Extend Validity of Residence Permits for Ukrainian Refugees Under Temporary Protection - SchengenVisaInfo.com - SchengenVisaInfo.com - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Wildfire Smoke's Affect on Potato Crops Being Studied - University of Idaho - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- National Weather Service Northern Indiana radar will be down beginning Monday for upgrades - WANE - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Renault Trucks Will Give New Life to Old Parts - Ward's Auto - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Stop the stigma and step in - Farm Progress - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Empire Wind and WCS Announce Extension of Historic Near Real-Time Acoustic Marine Monitoring Project In New York Bight - Business Wire - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Media Advisory: Chalk River Laboratories Officially Breaks Ground on One of the Largest Nuclear Research Facilities Ever Constructed in Canada -... - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- PFAS pilot study gets yet another extension, scope and cost of another project reduced - wausaupilotandreview.com - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Predators extend deal with Bally Sports South - Awful Announcing - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- WWYDW: Reactions to the Canucks' J.T. Miller extension - Canucks Army - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- NASA's Artemis rocket makers explain that it's a marathon and a sprint - The Register - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Food supply chains are susceptible to fraud and adulteration more than ever, warns Kerry - Food Ingredients First - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Reprieve for The White Lady as iconic food truck gets 12-month licence extension - Stuff - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Gypsy Moth Biology & Life Cycle - University of Illinois Extension - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- AgriLife's Johanna Hicks and Team Honored at 2022 National Health Outreach Conference - frontporchnewstexas.com - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Harmony Gold to maintain dividends despite facing two years of heavy capital bills - Miningmx - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Malaysian, Thai companies ink MOU to explore cooperation in Mechanised Infantry Fighting Vehicle life extension programme - The Edge Markets MY - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Coveris previews new packaging solutions targeting enhanced performance and recyclability - Packaging Europe - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- KPF and heatherwick studio to extend singapore airport as cluster of lush 'neighborhoods' - Designboom - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Understanding Tax Liens. Could the IRS seize your car? - finehomesandliving.com - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- Extension of Legacy Trail in Tyler to continue - Tyler Morning Telegraph - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- KRUG: Extension learning opportunities around the corner - Hays Post - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Half-Life 2 VR is coming, here's how you can get it - Win.gg - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Transplant technology: United Therapeutics 3D-printing of human organs focused on every breath you take - Manchester Ink Link - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Serena Williams Interview on Leaving Tennis and Her Legacy - TIME - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Thousands of photos captured by everyday Australians reveal the secrets of our marine life as oceans warm - The Conversation - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Empathy and Solidarity: On Alejandro Varela's The Town of Babylon - lareviewofbooks - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- How many people continue their stay in the UK or apply to stay permanently? - GOV.UK - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Anti-Aging Conference and Olympia Weekend Set for Back-to-Back Weekends in Vegas - Muscle & Fitness - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- A son steps aboard the Eagle and into his father's world - Journal Inquirer - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Class to teach healthy living for those with chronic conditions - The Maryville Forum - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- New application for disinfection of fresh-cut fruits by means ozone in the packaging - hortidaily.com - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Meatless Meats and Smokeless Smokes - Equities News - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Command & Control Success: Fireground Commander: Understanding the Impact - Firehouse - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Five Ways This Survey About Maine's Wellness is Absolutely Bogus - WJBQ - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture, Virginia Cooperative Extension help Virginia Tech showcase its land-grant mission at 2022 Virginia Ag... - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Anti-ageing tips: Here's how to rewind your biological clock - Hindustan Times - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]